'Shark Tank's' Herjavec calls every day a miracle

By LUAINE LEEMcClatchy Newspapers

February 9, 2013 12:01 AM

By LUAINE LEEMcClatchy Newspapers

February 9, 2013 12:01 AM

SHARK TANK - "Episode 416" - Three brothers from Boise, ID hope the Sharks can envision investing in their family business -- one-of-a-kind eyewear made from sustainable wood; and a man from Madison, MS, enters into muddy waters when he asks the Sharks to invest in his camouflage clothing line designed for duck hunters. Also, sorority sisters from Dallas, TX hope the Sharks find a perfect fit for their premium denim line, and a pair of Southern Belles from Loganville, GA, try to charm the Sharks into investing in their high end bedding for little girls. Pat McCarthy from St. Charles, IL, who declined an offer from Daymond in Season 3, gives an update on Liquid Money, a line of his & her fragrances inspired by the scent of money, on "Shark Tank," FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR)
ROBERT HERJAVECAmerican Broadcasting Companies,

At first glance people might think of Robert Herjavec as the angel fish in "Shark Tank." As a member of the panel of business experts on the ABC show that evaluates wannabe entrepreneurs, Herjavec remains the positive one.

He has reason to be. From less than humble beginnings, Herjavec has earned a fortune mostly in the field of technology. He started and sold several enterprises, including a technology company that he peddled to Nokia for $225 million.

Yet today, he said he never wanted to launch his own company. "The only reason I did was that I couldn't get a job in time to pay my mortgage. So I started a business, just went out and sold something.

"When I met my wife I was running a pretty big company. I was the president at 25 years old, and we went on our honeymoon for two weeks. When we came back, the owner fired me and sued me for $4 million.

"He made his son president, but he wanted me to stay in sales. That was tough because my wife -- she's an eye doctor -- had never been sued, and she thought she'd lose her car. Those were dark days," he said, shaking his head.

Herjavec said he learned that anybody can sue you for anything. "I had no money to hire a lawyer so for the next two years I'd build my first company during the day, and at night learned about the law. I took the case to the state supreme court. Now I look back and think, 'Holy crap, when did I sleep?'"

Herjavec, 49, thinks he inherited his drive from his parents, who emigrated from Yugoslavia to Canada when he was 8. He said his father had been thrown in jail 20 times in his native land for speaking out against communism.

"Dad would tell you he was a political prisoner, but the reality is that he was a young kid who would go into a bar, stand up and say bad things about communism. Back then you weren't allowed to do that. My dad's the kind of guy that the more you pushed him, the harder he pushed back."

After Herjavec's father was beaten so badly by local police officials that he almost died, he moved his family to Canada.

"He was 37 years old and spoke no English," Herjavec said. "He escaped from a country with no money, and took his wife and kid to a country where he didn't know anyone. My dad was a very proud guy. He was an entertainer, had a beautiful voice, loved to go out and have fun."

Herjavec started his career in television, doing commercials at 12. Later, he worked as an assistant director and produced the Canadian Winter Olympics in 1984.

Shortly after that, he landed a job in the computer business, which was in its infancy. "I got in at the beginning of the big wave and I stayed in for 30 years," Herjavec said.

When the Canadian version of "Shark Tank" started six years ago, producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor") summoned Herjavec for the American version.

Married for 23 years, Herjavec has three children, ages 19, 16 and 14. He said the secret to life is to remain positive.

"You either live your life like every day is a miracle or you live your life like nothing is a miracle. I believe that, and I'm a happy guy. I'm excited to be here."